Representative from Bayelsa, Tamunosoye Karibi-George, Crowned Miss World Nigeria for 2026

Tamunosoye Karibi-George, the representative of Bayelsa State, has been crowned Miss World Nigeria 2026, claiming the national title at the grand finale held in Lagos, where she outshone 19 other finalists to take the crown.

n

The 26-year-old beauty queen's victory was announced during the event at Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel on Saturday, marking a significant milestone in her journey to represent Nigeria on the global stage.

n

Despite representing Bayelsa State in the competition, Karibi-George is originally from Rivers State, highlighting the diversity of the contestants participating in the pageant.

n

As the new Miss World Nigeria, Karibi-George has earned the right to represent the country at the 73rd Miss World Festival, scheduled to take place in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from August 9 to September 5, 2026.

n

This year's competition, themed "Pride, Power, and Purpose," brought together contestants from across the country, all vying for the coveted crown and the opportunity to make a difference through their advocacy work.

n

Ben Murray-Bruce, the founder of the Silverbird Group and a former senator, took to X on Sunday to announce the winner and congratulate Karibi-George on her new title, expressing his enthusiasm for her advocacy work through her initiative, Beyond Labels.

n

Murray-Bruce praised Karibi-George's dedication to supporting children with special needs, highlighting her passion and commitment to creating a more inclusive and empowering environment for these children.

n

In his congratulatory message, Murray-Bruce noted that Karibi-George's "purpose, poise, intelligence, and passion shone brightly, earning her the honour of wearing the crown and carrying the hopes of a nation," as he urged Nigerians to rally behind the new queen.

n

Murray-Bruce called on Nigerians to support Karibi-George as she prepares to represent the country at the international contest, encouraging her to "go forth and inspire the world" and make Nigeria proud.

n

Miss World Nigeria, organised annually by the Silverbird Group, serves as the country's official platform for selecting its representative for the global Miss World competition, with a strong focus on humanitarian projects under the "Beauty with a Purpose" initiative.

n

Karibi-George takes over the title from Joy Mojisola Raimi, who represented Nigeria at the 72nd edition of Miss World in Hyderabad, India, where she finished among the Top 20 contestants and ranked in the Top Five from Africa.